Daily Archives: June 30, 2014

1) the first binomial for the October elections was formed and is the result of a partnership. What is your analysis?

All political and sociological analysis must be based not only on the immediate present, but successive political events in the recent past. Among these, the alliance in Beni between National Unity (UN) directed by Samuel Doria Medina, with the Social Democratic Movement (MDS), chaired by Governor Rubén Costas and First Beni, led by Ernesto Suarez who endorsed the running of Carmelo Lens for governor. Against all odds and analysts survey, the alliance won by 10 points to the ruling party and its candidate in January 2013. Reissued Today and in the binomial Samuel Doria Medina, Ernesto Suarez, former governor of Beni, which the Morales regime harassed political and judicially until he quit.

No less important are the allegations of corruption uncovered by the UN. In this pattern, is the governor’s speech at the inaugural Costas G-77 + China, that made the difference: placed the finger in the wounds of the scheme to discuss prisoners, persecuted and exiled politicians. He referred to the Andean centralism and the Santa Cruz battles for autonomy, and urged to put their feet on the ground when new economic systems are proposed outside the globalized world of today, not exempted from injustice. Those signs, the hunger strike of the Civic Committee of Santa Cruz adds, for six days, demanding the adoption of a shortlist for the departmental electoral body.

2) On Hunger Strike Committee, why do you think that Evo Morales instructed the legislature to heed the request of Santa Cruz for the strike to be ended?

It’s another sign that points to a new political era, after the instructions of Morales himself, the proposed list was not approved in the last three years. He has not done for being a Democrat or because he has neglected his authoritarian and autocratic nature. Is further proof of guardianship of the executive over the legislature, but has a greater background: win the electorate of Santa Cruz, as on data from the latest survey (early June) Morales is stuck at 40% and no back or with the millionaire and mass propaganda. Doria Medina, even without covenant or new binomial, then amounted to 22%. Morales’s attendance at the celebrations of the winter solstice in Samaipata in Santa Cruz valleys, also points to win votes. Both facts are the answers to the first ruling and consolidated unity of the democratic opposition and the new pair, which can wipe Beni and Santa Cruz would be around an encouraging figure.

3) Why do you think they left marginalized Juan del Granado alliance? Distrust? Political jealousy?

They did not marginalize him, he marginalized himself when Doria Medina said that was not going to ally, and today announced that he [Del Granado] will attack for being part of the government of Jaime Paz Zamora (1989-1993). I assume that Samuel will refresh your memory, then Del Granado and his party, the Movimiento Bolivia Libre – defined as leftist, were the main ally of the government of Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada (1993-1997) unapologetic neoliberal, who capitalized-a form of privatization-the major state enterprises. As an ally, Del Granado passed in parliament all the neoliberal economic policies of government. So did support to Morales as an ally between 2006 to 2010, when seconded in his Indian-centralist-nationalist-aymara adventure later becoming detractor. In any case, he could join the new alliance that is representing the West and East. If he does not, he would be functional to the ruling, which can give their votes, which vary according to surveys being 4/5%, and no one would come wrong.

4) What type of ballot measure do you think people are expecting from the opposition?

In my view, the opposition binomial Samuel Doria Medina, Ernesto Suárez responds to political unity expected by Bolivian society. It is not believed that they can easily win, regardless of the reality that speaks the absolute management power exercised by Morales on the whole superstructure of government: Legislative, Judiciary, Armed Forces, National Police, social movements, coca growers, cooperative miners , smugglers and the like. But the unity of the opposition can force a runoff in October, and if the opposition does not win, it could impose a balance of forces outside the undemocratic absolute majority of today.

Should not just be speaking to retrieve the rule of law and separation of powers, but to restore the power of public institutions, democratic debate, exchange of ideas and proposals from representatives of political parties and civil society, public policy , sustainable development without sounding traps, spending transparency and accountability absent accounts for nearly nine years. Society expects the opposition to enforce the democratic changeover without extensions unconstitutional and an impartial electoral body, now under the autocratic presidentialism and continuity of Morales.

5) On that topic can society expect new economic policies of the alliance and its new pairing?

I think, by their resumes, they will not re-edit an economy tied to finite natural resources such as gas and minerals, but to make it competitive, industrialized, leaving aside the current “economic narcissism”, as pointed by economist Gonzalo Chavez at the symposium on “The state of the economy.” There, he stripped macroeconomic figures, praised by external agencies, have nothing to do with microeconomics nor planning medium and long term. It was said that Bolivia is the victim of an extractive and rentier structure without productive investment, not thinking how will the country perform when the prices of raw materials, by the already emerging economies decelerated, will fall. From talking to taxi drivers, who are an excellent social thermometer, much of society expects democratic alliance, even if not win the presidency, has the political strength to build a Bolivia which is actually the famous “living well is not felt anywhere”. They expect a society that is not “bombed by government propaganda that says it spends thousands and thousands who have gone to their corrupt pockets”, pointed out. “This work is hard, but there is no other term that covers my social security and my family to have at least health,” they added.

6) That perception speaks of a disappointment …

Certainly. That’s the feeling of a large part of society. It is a disappointment that the democratic opposition must listen, to tell the country how will it reverse the current situation, no promises they can not keep. The binomial Ernesto Samuel is credited with arguments to attract disenchanted society that politics add more followers and votes, without the alliance becomes an amorphous mixture. Accumulate successful experiences in public and privately run social sensitivity, which is not only an attribute of the left, have desire and commitment to Bolivia.

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PLS be aware that in most cases, it is an English translation from original articles in Spanish. I will use these [brackets] to place inside the article my opinion or a clarifying remark. At the end of the article, right below the link of the original, I will place sometimes my view based on my professional experience.
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